Page 9 of Pretend You Love Me
“You don’t need the bone set or anything, so the cast is just keeping it still and protecting while it heals.”
“Okay.” She holds out her wrist so he can go to work.
“What brought you to our little town?” he asks.
“Oh, just needed to get away,” she says, sweetly.
“Well, you picked the right time of year.”
“I sure did. It’s gorgeous.”
“Where are you from?”
“Oh, here and there.”
Bullshit.
She’s a stone wall, and he’s not getting through. I wonder if she’ll let me tear it down.
“How much do I owe you?” she asks when he finishes. She looks worried waiting for his response.
He strokes his chin. I see him taking note of her worry. “$50.”
She blows out a relieved sigh then shocks the hell out of me by hopping off the table and wrapping her arms around Melvin. She gives him a quick peck on the cheek.
Something stirs inside me watching this little scene. I do not like it one bit.
“Thank you,” she purrs.
Melvin’s beaming like an idiot. He walks us out to the waiting room, and she pulls cash out of her purse. ‘Thank you again for everything.”
“Welcome to town,” he says. “Will you be sticking around a while?”
“A month or two,” she replies.
A month or two? Interesting.
“Well, see you around, Ginger.”
“You too. Nice meeting you, Melvin and you too, Martha.”
They both smile and wave.
Melvin calls after us just as I’m opening the door. “Don’t leave her alone for a few hours in case she has a concussion, and Paul needs to see her as soon as possible.”
“10-4,” I say as I make my way out the door.
I look at my watch. Well, so much for getting anything done today.
She’s standing on the sidewalk looking at me helplessly with those big doe eyes.
“Come on,” I grumble, pointing to the truck.
“You don’t have to...”
“Yes, I do,” I bark.
She climbs into the truck after me, and we make our way into town. I’m tapping my thumb on the steering wheel as I drive and stealing glances at her. What’s her story? I am curious; but, at the same time, I don’t want to get wrapped up in whatever trouble she’s entangled in, because mark my words, she’s entangled in something bad.
